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2018 - Vertex Normal Map

"Although LightWave has no way of generating vertex normal maps internally yet, Layout can still work with them in objects obtained from other sources."

The problem for me is LightWave IS my other source. I'm trying to create game assets for Unity and I have no way to create/edit smoothing groups/vertex normals.

What are you guys doing for your workflow? Purchasing another full 3D program is not an option for me. Is there a tool that can be had for a few hundred that can assist? I haven't been rendering in LightWave for some time and unfortunately it seems like all the updates for 2018 are geared toward rendering within LightWave.

This makes 2018 a non-option for me and so my software budget will (hopefully) go toward a tool that allows me to do what I'm needing at the moment.

On a side note, what, if anything, has been updated for scripting (C++ SDK, LScript, Python)? This is the less sexy side of updates and I've looked but haven't seen any information that has delved into this at all yet.

Last I looked into the Python implementation it was not completely developed for all the hooks into LW. I've seen nothing to note that it ever has been completed. Not only that but the Python documentation was a bit lacking and required you to refer back to the C++ SDK. I feel like that defeats the purpose of Python and I might as well stick with C++ or LScript.

Last I looked at Blender it didn't even properly handle smoothing groups and required you to split the geometry. This is a terrible habit for a workflow especially as tools exist that do what's needed.

Well as I quoted from the 2018 online docs LightWave Group has implemented the functionality to see and select existing vertex normal maps so I wouldn't say game dev has been neglected it just hasn't been priority #1. The challenge for me as a customer is with no road map I have no idea when I can expect the functionality to create what I need within LW so I need something else for this one task.

Had this issue recently with some WebGL VR work. I couldn't find a work around. There are some independent programs that would take an FBX and let you set smoothing groups, but I could never get it to work. Unfortunately I had to take them into Max, set the smoothing, and re-export. I do think it's something that has been needed for a long time.

"Although LightWave has no way of generating vertex normal maps internally yet, Layout can still work with them in objects obtained from other sources."

The problem for me is LightWave IS my other source. I'm trying to create game assets for Unity and I have no way to create/edit smoothing groups/vertex normals.

What are you guys doing for your workflow? Purchasing another full 3D program is not an option for me. Is there a tool that can be had for a few hundred that can assist? I haven't been rendering in LightWave for some time and unfortunately it seems like all the updates for 2018 are geared toward rendering within LightWave.

This makes 2018 a non-option for me and so my software budget will (hopefully) go toward a tool that allows me to do what I'm needing at the moment.

On a side note, what, if anything, has been updated for scripting (C++ SDK, LScript, Python)? This is the less sexy side of updates and I've looked but haven't seen any information that has delved into this at all yet.

I really wish they would embrace full support for vertex normals, including allowing multiple normals per vertex (basis for smoothing groups) -- but somehow not optimistic we'll ever see it. I use Maya to harden edges and tweak vertex normals. AFAIK, neither ZBrush nor 3DCoat have tool support for them either, so maybe Blender?

I'm game to try, how? I've been looking for info and I'm not finding it. When I search all I find are others asking the same questions and no solutions.

There's a hack/workaround where you can cut and paste a section you want with a hard edge split, export that as an obj (with write normal option checked in OBJ tab in general options), load it back into modeler, merge points and you will have a smoothing split. Its really a dreadful workflow. And lack of smoothing groups/vertex normal toolkit is probably the reason that set me off on a search for a modeler replacement about 4 years ago.

I emailed Oliver about his Create Smoothing Groups tool within OD 2018 Tool Set and he confirmed it exported in FBX and he was able to bring into a game engine so I'm going to work with that for the moment. I'll test it myself later today.

I emailed Oliver about his Create Smoothing Groups tool within OD 2018 Tool Set and he confirmed it exported in FBX and he was able to bring into a game engine so I'm going to work with that for the moment. I'll test it myself later today.

Then I suspect its only smoothing groups and no vertex normals, if its not a new fbx exporter? The only way to get vertex normals to and from LW is with obj. Fbx in LW doesn’t support vertex normals.
Sorry to say but LW for game assets isn’t the best choice, you can do things with akward and cumbersome workarounds, but if you do it often you should look for a better tool.